TBA 2011: Pre-Func

At this very moment, Taylor Mac is probably sifting his sequins for the big show.

It’s that time again. In fact, as you read this, we are zero-some-hundred minutes or less from the opening of PICA’s Time-Based Art Festival, aka TBA .
Overnight, a giant banner was unfurled on the West-facing facade of Washington High School (aka “The Works”) and all afternoon, high-caliber cars have been vying for primo parking with the usual southeast neighborhood station wagons. Presumably, artists are even now hoisting their bags from airport conveyor belts and hailing cabs. Volunteers are preening and straightening sculptures and paintings. And our New York Times guest blogger Claudia LaRocco is likely settling into her Portland suite, highlighting her guidebook for the coming week.

This is the ninth year the fest has happened, and it won’t be the last. And of course, once the events start popping off, the last thing you’ll want to do is languish in the past. HOWEVER: as you freshen your haircut, or buy your bus ticket, or savor some happy hour canapes, you might also add the following light reading to your pre-party prep: